Darcel Rockett
It’s the midway point of the semester–and all the classes that I culled together for my schedule are gelling nicely. I had the chance to talk with playwright Anne Washburn in my playwriting class; the prompts in my long narrative/fiction writing classes have started synaptic connections that I thought had atrophied in my youth, and the analytical/critical thinking involved in my history class looking at reparations is letting me work through some stuff, and being a part of the production team of a yet to be produced Black play has given me all the creative feels.
I’ve enjoyed time with my fellow Fellows and their families, the Nieman family–from architecture walks, experiencing the latest “Alien” movie with newbies to the franchise, apple/peach picking, watching the magic of “Romeo and Juliet” at the American Repertory Theater (the set design was beautifully simple and transformative), visited Salem in its Halloween glory (folks REALLY love that holiday), traveled to Long Island to hug a close friend (yay to Rochell!), a number of close friends from Chicago (took a car on a ferry!), and all the while still adding to my chocolate knowledge of the region. I’m taking in history all along the way with @theglamourousacademic and Knight Science Journalism Fellow Jori Lewis, author of “Slaves for Peanuts: A Story of Conquest, Liberation, and a Crop That Changed History.” I’ve talking journalism with the next generation of journalists (don’t be shocked if you get a call from one of them at my behest).
The hugs abound, the reading and laughs are ongoing, and the help from Black academia, like Anthony Abraham Jack (thanks for all the leads on the great places to break bread). We’re still getting the journalism in…with debate watch parties (alongside Sally Buzzbee of Washington Post/AP fame). BTW, check out my girls’ flag football story when you get a chance. Seminars, receptions, conversations with journos, partaking in jewelry-making classes, lunch with Anne Marie, festivals, and finding a home away from home at Zina’s Salon in Cambridge on Wednesdays…it’s all coming together nicely.
I’m trying to squeeze in nap time, but at the moment, there’s so much going on, I use my weekends thinking of stories I want to write, reflecting and chilling in front of series and films I never had the time to enjoy in Chicago (talking pop culture with Dane Jacob Wendt Jensen always cracks me up). Gonna try to leave a mark here someway, somehow…considering of teaching a course this summer.
I’ll keep y’all posted. (Sorry it took me so long to post this one, Judith!) Until the next one…here’s a sample of music that I get to listen to before my fiction writing class at MIT.
